The Toronto Blue Jays are set to visit Pittsburgh on Monday night to challenge the Pirates’ standout right-hander Paul Skenes, a leading Cy Young Award candidate. Toronto’s pursuit of the top record in the American League hinges on this matchup as Skenes looks to maintain his pitching dominance despite recent struggles.
Veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman (8-9, 3.79 ERA) will start for the Blue Jays against Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA), who is in his second MLB season. While Skenes leads the Cy Young race, his recent performances have shown some vulnerability, and the Pirates enter the game in a slump, having lost seven of their last eight games.
Paul Skenes’ August Challenges Amidst Cy Young Contention
Skenes started August with a strong 1.83 ERA and an impressive five July starts allowing only two runs, but his recent outings have not matched that excellence. In his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers, Skenes lasted just four innings while throwing 93 pitches, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks, resulting in a lopsided 14-0 loss for Pittsburgh.
Earlier this month, Skenes also allowed four runs over five innings against the Colorado Rockies. Sandwiched between these starts was a solid performance against the Cincinnati Reds, where he struck out eight batters and pitched six scoreless innings, although he gave up a career-high seven hits in that game.
Another notable trend is that Skenes has surrendered three home runs in his past three outings combined, a significant increase after only allowing two homers across his previous 15 starts this season.
There’s a silver lining in that games like this are inevitable,
Skenes reflected after his recent start.
We got it out of the way. On to the next one.
—Paul Skenes, Pitcher
Blue Jays Manage Recent Setback, Preparing for Key Rotation Moves
The Blue Jays saw their three-game winning streak end on Sunday with a 10-4 defeat at home to the Texas Rangers. Still, Toronto has shown consistent form lately, winning eight out of their previous 12 games. Gausman’s experience is pivotal as the team builds momentum toward the postseason.
Toronto is also preparing to bolster its rotation with the upcoming return of right-hander Shane Bieber, a two-time All-Star and the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner. Bieber, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year, completed his final rehab start last Saturday and is expected to join the Blue Jays’ rotation soon, providing a significant boost during the regular season’s final stretch.
You’re talking about a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, a guy who’s been in big moments, done well and really understands how to pitch. It’s exhilarating,
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said about Bieber. —John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager
Kevin Gausman’s Recent Performances and Historical Record Against Pirates
Gausman, despite a loss in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, pitched solidly by allowing only two runs on three hits and one walk over seven innings. Two solo home runs from Michael Busch and Matt Shaw contributed to the 4-1 defeat. Gausman has been consistent over his last five starts, pitching at least six innings each time and limiting opponents to two or fewer runs in four of those contests.
Against the Pirates, Gausman’s career record is 1-3 with a 5.74 ERA across 47 innings in 10 appearances, including eight starts. He aims to improve on this track record in Monday’s key matchup.
Implications of the Matchup and What’s Next for Both Teams
This game presents a critical test for both teams as the Blue Jays seek to strengthen their position in the AL standings while the Pirates look to end their losing skid. Paul Skenes, as the Cy Young frontrunner, has a chance to reaffirm his dominance despite recent challenges, whereas the Blue Jays are balancing veteran reliability with the promising return of Shane Bieber to reinforce their postseason aspirations.
The outcome could influence pitching rotations and momentum for the closing weeks of the season, making this matchup a significant event for both the Blue Jays and Pirates fans alike.